Constipation.... Diarrhea.... Constipation.... Diarrhea... Perhaps you mainly struggle with one, perhaps you struggle with both on and off!! Sound familiar? Personally i went through phases... i'd have one for weeks, then another for weeks, constant back and forth. Sometimes i'd have both in one day.
Recently i shared my story battling digestive health issues including Hydrogen SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth), Candida Overgrowth (Yeast), Food Intolerance, Histamine Intolerance, Food Allergies, Health Anxiety/ Depression, Slow Motility, Leaky Gut, Gastritis and the sneaky culprit... my root cause... my nemesis.... Citrobacter Freundii (it's a relative of E Coli). I want this blog post to be more focused so if you are curious of my diet and more please just check out my story. You can view my story at link : https://wellnessmamamary.wixsite.com/website-1/post/healing-my-mind-body-and-guts if you'd like to catch up and keep up to date on my healing journey, it's still in progress.
My story brought about many questions, commonly i receive messages from my readers asking....
How did you deal with Constipation?
How did you deal with Diarrhea?
How do you stay regular?
What do you take to help stay regular?
What symptoms did you experience?
How long did they last?
Please note i am not a doctor, this is just my personal experience. I'm here to share what has worked for me.
My symptoms of Constipation & Diarrhea:
Severe Abdominal Pain/Cramping/ Sharp Pains
Bloating/ Gas Build Up/Trapped Gas
Chronic Inflammation
Nausea/ Vommiting
Shortness of Breath/ Hard to Breath
Heightened Vertigo
Heightened Acid Reflux/ Bad Taste in Mouth
Straining/ Hemorrhoids/ Rectal Bleeding
Intestinal Throbbing
Lumpy or Hard Painful Stools
Loose Watery Stools
Night Sweats
Fever/Chills
Disturbed Sleep Patterns
Extreme Fatigue
Feeling Full/ Lack of Appetite
How long did my constipation episodes last? My constipation episodes would last on average 6 days to 12 days without a bowel movement. Sometimes i'd have small hard pellet like stools but struggled to empty the bowels. I never went to the hospital but i came close many times. It is recommended to go to the ER if you go 7+ days without a bowel movement (but most of us know that ER doesn't always do much other than prescribing laxatives) My doc prescribed a laxative but it just swapped me over to a diarrhea episode. At a certain point i figured i might as well figure it out myself.
How long did my diarrhea episodes last? My Diarrhea episodes lasted anywhere from 3 days to 14 days, it was quite the range, if i didn't have diarrhea, i was constipated. Again, almost went to the hospital multiple times for dehydration but seemed to manage okay on my own when i was mindful of my water intake. I've had a doc prescribe anti-diarrhea medication but it never worked, it just swapped me over to constipation. It was very frustrating going back and forth. With Diarrhea i'd miss much more work because i'd become one with the toilet.
What did i take during my episodes? Well, all sorts of things! I experimented with many different herbs, laxatives, medicines, medications, enemas est. With research i found that medications, enemas and laxatives long term do not work and have damaging effects on the body. I decided to stop those entirely and do only natural treatments. I also found i enjoyed getting a poop stool to raise up and create a "squat" like position. Of course diet matters, diets can really range depending on the sickness you are battling so in that area, you will have to do your best.
The following supplements and doses worked for me :
Smooth Move Tea by Traditional Medicinals : (I found a bit of cramping but usually saw a movement of some sore within 24 hours, would drink 1 or 2 bags daily when constipated)
Magnesium by Nature Made: (i take 400mg daily before bed to stay regular, if i was really backed up i'd take 1 magnesium and 1 magnesium citrate before bed )
Hemp Oil Manitoba Harvest: ( i take 1 capsule daily to now maintain regularity, 4 when i was really backed up)
Slippery Elm by Natures Way: ( I don't take this daily anymore, i now only use it when i have an acid reflux flare, when constipated i'd drink about 8 capsules daily in warm water like a tea)
Marshmallow Root by Natures Way: (Again, i no longer take daily, only during acid reflux flare, when backed up i'd take up to 6 capsules daily, i'd mix it in with the slippery elm tea.)
Glucomannan Konjac Root: ( I take 1 to 2 capsules daily to stay regular, i like to open capsules in a glass of warm water, it makes a gelatin like mixture, off texture but is amazing. It creates a mucus layer around the stomach and intestinal lining, also helps feel full with small meals and makes stools normal rather than loose or hard.)
Gas X, Pepto Bismal or Mylanta: I took both of these until i discovered celery juice, they made the symptoms mild but still wasn't doing the trick. They did me okay when trying to get through a long day at work.
Hands down best digestive aid ever, in my opinion is freshly juiced Celery. It's best to drink on an empty stomach and do not eat for 1 to 2 hrs following. Start with 8oz for a few days, see how you do, it took me about 3 days to get used to it, first it clears up gas so it feels a bit flatulent to start. Once comfortable move up to 12oz, then up to 18 oz, or whatever, i'm up to 22 oz a day. I've grown to love it and i love having bowel movements 2 to 3 times a day with ease. I like to add a tiny bit of lemon, ginger or a few carrots to add a little sweetness. I only wish i had discovered fresh celery juice much sooner in life. It's amazing for Acid Reflux as well, it neutralizes the pH levels of the stomach.
I also suggest whatever Digestive Enzyme you prefer. I enjoy Simalase Sensitive Stomach by Integrative. I take 1-2 before each meal daily, i'd take up to triple the dose during an episode.
Barleans Flax Oil: 2 tbsp a day seemed to do the trick to help things become solid.
Hemp Extract Softgels by R+R Medicinals: These are CBD based so i mainly used these to ease inflammation and pain. I took up to 3 capsules daily on bad days. p.s. also great for cramps ladies.
Sacred 7 Mushroom: It's a mixture of medicinal mushrooms. These may be tough for most due to allergies, mold sensitivity and so on. I don't have great experience but was able to stomach half cup in tea form. It helps so much with inflammation and ridding of toxins.
I have had 1-3 bowel movements a day since beginning treatment on June 25th, 2020. I'm still in disbelief that it's possible to heal. Please remind yourselves if you are constipated or have diarrhea changes have to made. I wish you all the courage and the energy to keep fighting to heal. Go find your root cause and turn that gut around. Manifest your outcome!
***** Mary 8/5/20
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/p/CBGoBwTJUJB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bellismaryelizabeth/
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